How Effective Is Aitkin’s Diet?

Whenever people talk about weight loss and nutrition, Atkins diet is never missed. It is one of the most popular diet plans in the world. Although many don’t really understand what it is all about, when they hear the word “Atkins”, they know it’s all about losing weight.

High Protein, Low Calorie Diet

This diet program rests on the idea that the body utilizes carbohydrates before the fats. The program claims that in two weeks, individuals could lose up to 15 pounds. Unless otherwise the person is physically active to burn all the carbs and fats, the tendency is to become fat because fats are stored rather than converted to usable energy. According to Robert Atkins, the man behind this concept, overweight individuals eat plenty of carbohydrates. By drastically reducing carb intake, people will convert their body to fat-burning machines, and immediately lose weight. His diet plan is also linked to good health and disease prevention.

What do experts say about it?

Studies show that Atkins diet is very effective. In a clinical research carried out in 2003, it was found that among the 63 obese people, those who followed Atkins diet lost twice as much as those who followed conventional diet. In general, scientific studies show that low-carb diet is much effective than the low-fat diet people who follow the program are less likely to experience hunger.

Health experts have different views regarding the Atkins diet. Some are in total conformity with the program but some are skeptical. According to Gary D. Foster, PhD, the Atkins diet is a viable option for people who are looking to lose weight. He is a clinical director of weight and eating disorders at the University of Pennsylvania. But even though it poses good results, he remained concerned about the long term safety of the diet plan. Dr. Robert H. Eckel from the University of Colorado worries that Atkins nutritional program could promote cardiovascular health problems. He also pointed out the risk for bone loss, and kidney and liver problems. This is because of the high amounts of protein required.

Even the American Dietetic Association has some concerns about the Atkins diet. According to the organization, the body needs 150 grams of carbohydrates per day to maintain efficient functioning. Going down the line could pose some health threats. This is because the brain needs glucose (which is mainly obtained from carbohydrates) to perform well. Unlike carbohydrates, converting fats and protein to usable energy takes time.

Some experts raised doubts on the sustainability of the Atkins diet. Barbara Rolls from the Nutrition Department of the PennUniversityfollow described the program to be prescriptive and very restrictive. She said it requires people to eat more than half of the food they don’t normally eat.

Conclusion

Overall, the Atkins diet is a reliable and effective weight loss solution that is backed by scientific evidences. However, it comes with potential risks as well due to the high protein requirements. Dieters must strictly follow the program to get their desired results. Keeping an eye to their heart health and glucose levels is also necessary to avoid potential health effects.